The Shamans Spirit: Discovering the Wisdom of Nature, Power Animals, Sacred Places and Rituals Paperback – 14 Feb. 2013

Mike Williams begins his latest book 'The Shaman’s Spirit' with the intriguing sentence ‘There is no such thing as shamanism’.Continuing with an introduction to the word shaman itself and briefly explaining the background to the many controversies and academic debates surrounding the contemporary use of the term, the author continues to give his well thought out opinion of why shamanism should be considered accessible for everyone:“If all human beings are capable of trance – which they are – it follows that we all can have a shamanic experience.”From our common earliest ancestors people have followed a shamanic path and through his extensive research the author tells the stories of many of the diverse practices that evolved from all corners of the globe, explaining the traditions and practice but emphasising also that personal experience is paramount advising the reader to adapt rather than copy, and to speak to the place of where you live or originate.In 'The Shaman’s Spirit' Mike Williams demonstrates his great depth of knowledge gained from many years of study as a part of gaining his PhD in archaeology as well as from his own practical experience of shamanism and study with indigenous shamans in Siberia and Lapland. The book is divided into five sections, “Place” “Animal”, “Plant”, “Ritual” and “Spirit” with each section containing a vast range of information covering all aspects of shamanic practice. For example “Place” includes: home; the web of life; pilgrimage; sacred sites; encountering nature; the elements; the directions; the shamanic otherworld; spirits and guardians; altars and shrines. Each section also contains practical exercises and guidance.Beautifully presented and illustrated 'The Shaman’s Spirit' makes very accessible reading and is highly recommended for anyone interested in starting or developing their own shamanic path. The well referenced information this book covers on traditional and contemporary practice also makes it ideal for anyone interested in the range of topics it contains or looking for a research resource on shamanism.

I received my copy yesterday, thought I would have a quick look and 20 pages realised had not put the book down! SO so interesting, packed with facts and info I had never come across before. It is well referenced so you can go and look things up further too. Often I find books of this genre will mention a name or idea but not say where it comes from , Mike has covered everything here. I follow Mike on Twitter and love his website and drumming tracks, this book is a true gem and for me it puts everything into one place. Lovely exercises and the illustrations and images are rich and mesmerising to gaze at, it is like journeying just looking at them alone! Thank you.

excellent and practical book

very good

I have to confess to be disappointed with this book from Mike Williams after having read both of his previous excellent shamanic books. It tries to cover to much and comes across as glossy full of pictures "How to be a Shaman" by reading this book and does not have enough depth or convey the commitment and work required by an individual. Sorry Mike not this time not one of your best I'm afraid at least not for me.

Was ok

Another excellent book from Mike Williams. The first thing one notices about the book is the fantastic presentation: great layout, full colour and magnificent photographs. Its a real joy to look through. The content is certainly equal to the presentation. For a start, it has a good structure, and is divided nicely into topics, such as Animal, Ritual, Spirit, etc. Everything you need or want to know about Shamanism is here: The Shamanic Otherworld, Shapeshifting, Rites of Passage, Extracting Illness, etc. Mike Williams uses examples from all over the world, from the Kogi of Columbia to the Sami of Lapland to the Pitjantjatjara Aborigines of Australia. His knowledge is as wide as it is deep, and is balanced, too, for he holds a PhD in archaeology and is also a shamanic practitioner, having studied with tribal elders in Siberia and Lapland. In summary, a highly recommended book.

This a beautiful book, well laid out and very easy to dip in and out of and very hard to put down!Written in a very natural style, obviously from experience and many years of study, Mike shares his extensive knowledge of all things 'Shamanic'.There is an old saying from someone who was very wise that there should be as many different spiritual paths in this world as there are people upon it. In essence - that our beliefs and spiritual practices should be as individual as we are.This book is a must have for anyone embarking on their spiritual journey or for those with more knowledge to gain a fresh inspiration for new areas of study.